Low-pressure steam-heating system.



E. H. GOLD.

LOW PRESSURE STEAM HEATING SYSTEM. APPLIGATION FILED ;TULY31,1912.

l,109,675 Patented Sept. 8,1914.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1. 55

S1/PPL PIPE E701? P/PE l l T??? iffg a 45 7Mi M. W 4 mmm E. H. GOLD.

LOW PRESSURE STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1912 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1,109,675. r PatehtedSept.8,1914.

7 7 rhermaafaf/t r 'A/r l a/u unrrnn snares Parana ornion.

EGBERT H. GOLD, OF CHICAGO.

ILLINOIS.

LOW-PRESSURE STEAMJ-TEAIING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 191st.

, Application filed July 31, 1am. Serial No. 712,562.

ator is kept, at substantially atmospheric pressure by means of a theri'nosta-tically operated controlling 'device, certain novellarrangements and devices whereby enough steam is delivered to the thermostat to keep the same hot when the radiator is put out of service.

The. invention is particularly intended to meet the requirements of heating systems used upon railway cars. A great deal of difficulty has been experienced in car heating from the freezing up of the tl'iermostatic controller when the supply of steam 'is shut off from the radiator. Condensation collects in the thermostat chamber of the controller and as the thermostatis ordinarily located so as to be affected by outside temperature, this water is likely to coi'igeal, with the result that the, system is clogged and has to be thawed out before it can be put back into service. The present invention provides for introducing into the neighborhood of the thermostat ust enough steam to keep the same warm, this operation taking place automatically when the radiator is cut out of service. v

A further object of the v invention is to provide certain improvements in the design and construction of the thermostatic controlling apparatus for low pressure heating systems of the type utilizing a jet of steam at the inlet end of the radiator for developing suction at the discharge end to accelerate the circulation through the radiator; the improvcments in question consisting, among other desirable features, 111 the provision of means for separating the water and steam at the return end of the radiator and discharging the water without letting it come into contact with the thermostat; and further, in the provision of certain devices and arrangements for preventing steam from being drawn from the thermostat chamber into the return end of the radiator when the supply of steam to the inlet end of the radiator is cut off. A

' The invention has for a further object to provide a heating system having. the new and improved features and consisting of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices shown in the drawings annexed hereto and which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated, in certain preferred embodiments, in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View taken through the controlling apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. I, looking in the-direction of the arrows;

l 'igs. 3 to (i inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the. application of the invention to different practical situations.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, 25 designates a casing formed with an internal web 26 dividing it into a thermostat chamber 27, in which is located the thermostat member 28, which is of familiar construction, and an inlet chamber 29 to which leads the steam supply-pipe 30. Ill designates the inlet end of a radiator and 32 the return end of the same, both communicating with the thermo-.

stat chamber 27. 33 is a nozzle having a comparatively small bore arranged in the web 26 opposite the inlet end 31 of the radiator. The. function of the nozzle is to deliver the steam in the direction of the radiator in the form of a jet. With the radiator open substantially all the steam from the nozzle enters the radiator. The jet produces a partial vacuum in the thermostat chamber which, acting upon the return end 32 of the radiator, tends to draw the me diuni, both water and steam, through said radiator.

The shield 33* which extends over the thermostat EZS protoets the same from the steam jet. which, because of its-velocity due to the-comparatively small crosssectional area of the nozzle 3 passes across the chamber and into. pipe 31 so'long as valve is open. Preferably the upper end of the 'casing 25 is formed with the passageway 34 which extends from a point a little beyond the nozzle to'the pipe 31 and which is flared at the nozzle end.

The thermostatic member 28 is interposed between an abutment 35, on'the end of an ad ustmg screw 86, and the extremity of the stem 37 of a valve 38 designed to closethe port 39 through which the supply pipe com-' municates with the inlet chamber 29.

The casing is formed with a suitable port or ports for discharging the water or; condensation delix'eredby the radiator and for maintaining communication between the re-' turn end of the radiator and the atmosphere so that air may enter the radiator when the latter is put out of service and condensation takes place.

In the form of controlling apparatus shown in vent the water from coming into contact with the thermostat a dam His interposed between the water outlet 41 and the thermostat chamber, the dam being formed preferably with the minute passageway 43 so that water will drain out of the thermostat chamber if for any reason it should be considered desirable to remove the pipe 10 and plug its opening. The casing 25 is, for convenience, made with tapsfor two return pipes and two water outlets and the superfluous taps closed with the plugs 44, 45 (Fig. 2) in case the controller is used with a single radiating circuit.

The inlet end ofthe radiator is provided with the shut-oil valve 46. lVhen this valve is closed the chamber 27 immediately fills .With steam and the thermostat expands and closes or throttles the port 39. The thermostat operates against a spring 47 which tends to hold the valve 38 open. Vhen the steam in the chamber condenses the thermostatcontracts and admits more steam. Of course in the end the valve reaches a balance which admits just enough steam to keep the thermostat 'hot.

In Figs. 3 t0 63 inclusive, I have shown several different applications of the above described controlling apparatus. In Fig 3 the controller is located within-the car. .48 designating the flooring of the car and-49 the train pipe. through the flooring of the can" In Fig. 4 the arrangement is practically the same excepttha-t the controller is located under the floor of the car. In both figures I have shown, by conventional representation, a thermostatic air valve 50 associated with the radiator. .The construction of valves of this sort is well understood and therefore need not be described in detail. The function of this device is to br ak the vacuum produced in the radiator when the inlet valve 4:6 is

The pipes 10 ad 41 extend closed and condensation is taking place. If some such device as this were not employed there would be danger that steam from the thermostat chamber 27 would be sucked'up into the radiator through its return end which is-in communication with said chamber. It will be understood that if desired the branch or supply pipe 31 may be" provided with any suitable form of shut-off valve. The arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is practically the same as that shown in the preceding two figures except that the outlet pipe 40 is removed and the opening in the casing closed with a plug 51. the discharge taking place entirely through the pipe 41. In Fig. 6 I have shown two radiating coils or units controlled by a single controlling apparatus, these coils being designated 31, 32 and 31, 32*, respectively, and being provided with shut-oft valves 46*, 46

Either or both of these coils may be put into service. In either case the steam is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

Vhile I have described my invention'in certain preferred embodiments, it will be readily understood that I do not limit the same to the particulars shown and described as modifications will occur to those skilled in \the art. Y

I claim:

']..,.In a low pressure heating system, the combination with a source of suppl pressure steam; of a radiator; controlling apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a pipe leading from said chamber to the radiator, means constituting a conduit leading from the source of supply to said chamber which terminates in position to normally deliver the infiowing steam to the pipe leading to said radiator, a thermostat in said chamber and a. valve actuated by the thermostat for controlling the flow of steam through said conduit; and means for the pipe leading to said radiator so as to direct the inflowing steam immediately to the thermostat.

2. In a low pressure heating system, the

combination with a source of supplyof high pressure steam; of a radiator; controlling apparatus comprising a chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber to the radiator, a return pipe from the radiator to said chamber, means constituting a conduit, leading from the source of supply to said chamher which terminates in position to normal y deliver the inflowing steam'to the pipe leading to said radiator, a thermostat in said chamber and a valve actuated by the ther most'at for controlling the fiow of steam through said conduit; and means for closing the pipe leading to said radiator sons to direct the inflowing steam immediately to the thermostat.

3. In a. low pressure heating system, .tne combination with a source of supply high closing y of high thermostat for controlling the flow-of steam through said conduit; and means for closmg the pipe leading to said radiator so as to directthelinfiowing steam immediately to the thermostat;

4. In a low pressure heating system, the combination with a source of supply of high pressure steam; .of a radiator; controlling apparatus comprising a chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber to the radiator, a return pipe from the radiator to said cham ber, means constituting a conduit leading from the source of supply to said chamber which terminates in position to normally deliver the inflowing steam to the pipe leading to said radiator, a thermostat in said chambcr and a valve actuated by the ther- -1nostat for controlling the flow of steam through said conduit; means for closing the pipe leading to said radiator so as to direct the infl'owing steam immediately to the thermostat; and means for preventing any effective quantity of steam from entering the radiator through its return end when the supply is shut off from the inlet end of the radiator.

5. In a low pressure heating system, the combination with a source of supply of hi gh pressure steam; of a radiator; controlling apparatus comprising a chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber to the radiator, a returnpipe from said radiator to the chamber, means constituting a conduit leading from the source of supply of steam to said chamber which terminates in position to normally deliver the infiowing'steam to the. pipe leading to the radiatorya thermostat in said chamber, and a valve actuated by the thermostat for controlling the flow of steam through said conduit; a water outlet pipe interposed between the return end of the radiator and said thermostat chamber, and means for closing the pipe leading to said; radiatorso as to direct the inflowing steam immediately to the thermostat.

6. In a low pressure heating system, the

combination with a source of supply of high pressure steam; of a radiator; controlling apparatus comprising a chamber, a thermostat in said chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber to the radiator, a return pipe from the radiator to the chamber terminating adjacent said thermostat, means constituting a. conduit leading "from the Source or" supply Of steam to said chamber which terminates in position to normally deliver the inflo'wing steam to the pipe leading to the radiator, and a valve actuated by the thermostat for controlling the flow of steam through said conduit; 'a. water outlet pressure steam; of 'a radiator; controlling apparatus comprising a chamber, a pipe leading'from said chamber to the radiator, a return pipe from the radiator to said chamber, means constituting a conduit lead{ ing; from the source of supply to said cham ber which terminates in position to normally deliver the inflowing steam to the pipe lead ing to said radiator, a thermostat in said chamber and a valveactuated by the thermostat for controlling the flow of steam through said conduit, and means for closing the pipe leading to said radiator so as to direct the inflowing steam immediately to the thermostat, said radiator being provided with a thermostatic air valve to break the,

vacuum when the supply is shut off and condensation takes place, for the purpose described.

8. In a low pressure heating-system, the combination with a source of supply of steam, of a radiator, means constituting a steam passageway between thesource of supply and the inlet end of said radiator which said passageway has an outlet, a valve to control the inflow of steam into said passageway, and a thermostat located in free communication with said passageway but said passageway, a thermostat located in free communication with said passageway but out of the direct line of flow of steam from the source of supply to the radiator, and it shut off valve in said passageway whereby the steam may be directed from said source of supply to said thermostat, said radiator hai-iing an outlet arranged so that the medium therefrom will influence said thermostat.

10. In a low pressure heating system, the combination with a source oi'high pressure steam, of a rznliator and a controlling apparatus comprisinga casing ha ving a partitiondividing the same into a valve chamber having a port adapted to pass steam from the a pipe leading from the thermostat chamber a to the radiator, a nozzle in said partition arranged in line with said pipe, a thermostat in said thermostat chamber, a valve in the valve chamber to close the aforesaid port having astem extending through said partition and operatively engaged by the thermostat, a shield which intervenes between the steam jet from the nozzle anc said thermostat, and a return pipe from the radiator to said -thermostat chamber.

11. In a low pressure heating system, the combination with a source of high pressure stcam,.of a radiator-anda controlling apparatus comprising a casing havin a partition dividing the same into a valve chamber having a port adapted to pass steam from the source of supply, and a thermostat chamber, a pipeleading from the thermostat chamber to the. radiator, a nozzle in said partition arranged in line with said pipe, a thermostat in said thermostat chamber, a valve in the valve chamber to close the aforesaid port having a stem extending through said partition and operatively engaged by the thermostat, a shield which intervenes between the steam jet from the nozzle and said thermostat, a return. pipe from the'radiator to said thermostat chamber, and a shutofi valve in the pipe leading to the radiator.

12. In a low pressure heating system, the combination with a source of high pressure steam, of a radiator and a controlling apparatus comprising a casing having a partition dividing the same into a valve chamber having a port adapted to pass steam from the source of supply, and a thermostat chamber, a pipe leading from the thermostat chamber to theradiator, a nozzle in said partition arranged in'line with said pipe, a thermostat in said thermostat chamber, a valve in the valve chamber to close the aforesaid port having a stem extending through said partition and operatively engaged by the thermostat,-a shield which intervenes between the steain et from the nozzle and said thermostat, a return pipe from the radiator to said thermostat chamber, a pi pe leading from the thermostat chamber to the atmosphere, a water outlet leading from the return pipe from the radiator, and a dam interposed between the endof said last named pipe and the thermostat.-

EGBERT ll. GOLD.

Witnesses L. A. FALKENBERG, Y. SKILINER. 

